CN116326990A

CN116326990A - Fully automatic coffee machine with removable coffee bean container

Info

Publication number: CN116326990A
Application number: CN202211654237.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·戈利尼克; A·克什纳; S·莱梅兹; B·奥格里泽克; A·森普里莫兹尼克
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2021-12-23
Filing date: 2022-12-22
Publication date: 2023-06-27
Also published as: EP4201270A1

Abstract

A coffee bean container (3) removable from the housing, having a grinder for coffee beans, having a discharge opening (4) of the coffee bean container (3) and having a door (5) for closing the discharge opening (4), which door is movable between an open position and a closed position by manual movement of the coffee bean container (3), having a stop (6) on the housing (2), which stop stands substantially transversely to the movement path, and having a locking member (7) which is pivotally connected to the housing (2) and which is rotatable about a rotation axis (R), comprising: -a locking portion (8) which, when the coffee bean container (3) is inserted, engages the door (5) in a locking manner in an open position of the door (5); and an actuating portion (9) in touching contact with the coffee bean container (3), which keeps the locking portion (8) engaged with the door (5) in the open position of the door when the coffee bean container (3) is inserted.

Description

Fully automatic coffee machine with removable coffee bean container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a coffee machine with a removable coffee bean container, comprising a built-in fully automatic coffee machine with a coffee bean container, wherein the coffee bean container is removed from the coffee machine to refill the coffee beans. The invention also relates to such a coffee bean container.

Background

Automatic coffee machines, including in-house coffee machines, are well known in the art. One of the advantages of the built-in device is that it can be accommodated in a space-saving manner in the cabinet and thus does not take up working space. Fully automatic coffee machines offer consumers various types of coffee beverages, such as, for example, cappuccino, espresso, latte and similar beverages consisting mainly of coffee and milk. To achieve this, fully automatic coffee machines of this type are supplied with coffee in the form of coffee beans in a coffee bean container, which needs to be refilled from time to time. For this reason, it is usually removed from the coffee machine for a period of time for refilling, so it is preferred that it comprises means for preventing the coffee beans from falling out of the container in this case. When the coffee bean container is filled with coffee beans, the user then returns it to the coffee machine, at which point the protection means protect the coffee beans from being discharged until the coffee bean container is inserted into the coffee machine. After placing the coffee bean container in the coffee machine, the protection device stops working, so that the coffee beans can freely fall from the coffee bean container into the grinder to be ground and the ground coffee is then transferred to the brewing unit. Once the brewing operation of the hot beverage is completed, the ground coffee grounds (also referred to as powder) from the brewing unit are discharged into a commonly provided collection container. The ground coffee grounds then remain therein until the next manual emptying by the user.

Document EP2878240A1 discloses a fully automatic coffee machine for domestic purposes, having a housing and a storage container for coffee beans which is removable from the housing, which storage container is movable on an actuation path, has a grinder for the coffee beans, has a discharge opening for supplying the coffee beans to the storage container of the grinder, and has a closing device for closing the discharge opening with a door, which closing device can be adjusted on movement of the storage container between an open position releasing the discharge opening and a closed position closing the discharge opening, wherein the door can be moved by manually moving the storage container without pretensioning between the open position and the closed position, has a stop on the housing of the fully automatic coffee machine, which stands transversely to the actuation path, and is in touching contact with the door when the storage container is inserted, and can be moved out of the actuation path into the release position from a locking position, has a pivotable latching lug as a stop, which engages in a locking manner on the edge of the door in the direction of the actuation path or a pivotable surface as a stop, which extends transversely to the actuation path of the door, and which extends transversely to the actuation rib when the storage container is inserted.

Document WO2008101773A1 discloses a legume container for a beverage machine, comprising a receptacle for storing beans, a dispensing opening for supplying beans to a grinder, and a coupling element arranged in a movable manner relative to the dispensing opening for connecting the receptacle to the beverage machine. The receptacle and the coupling element each comprise a closing element in the region of the dispensing opening, which closing elements are movable relative to each other in order to open and close the dispensing opening.

Document WO2004098361A1 discloses a grinding machine for grinding materials, comprising: a grinder assembly for receiving material therein; at least one removable hopper attachable adjacent the grinder assembly for dispensing material to the grinder assembly; a passageway defined in the hopper, the passageway cooperatively placed in communication with the grinder assembly for dispensing material from the hopper to the grinder assembly; a displaceable baffle positionable in an open position when the hopper is placed on the grinder assembly and positionable in a closed position when the hopper is removed from the grinder assembly; and a sliding door mechanism including a sliding door and a mover associated with the sliding door for controllably opening and closing a material passageway from the hopper to the grinder assembly for grinding material therein.

In known solutions, the general guidance is based on the whole coffee bean container housing and the coffee bean container assembly shape. The opening and closing of the legume can lid is based on a spring function and a snap or tab function. Those solutions can lead to many malfunctions that can occur during production, assembly or handling of large-sized parts, failure of spring elements and deformation of the snap or lugs.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a further development over the prior art and to provide a coffee machine with a removable coffee bean container, and more particularly an in-house coffee machine with a removable coffee bean container, wherein the opening and closing of the coffee bean container discharge opening door mechanism is reliable and easy to implement.

According to the present invention, a coffee machine is provided having a housing with a housing opening and a coffee bean container removable from the housing, and the coffee bean container is movable on a movement path. The coffee maker has a grinder for coffee beans. The coffee bean container has a discharge opening for supplying coffee beans to the grinder, and further comprises a door for closing the discharge opening, the door being movable between an open position and a closed position by manual movement of the coffee bean container. The housing has a stop upstanding substantially transverse to the path of movement and which comes into touching contact with the door when the coffee bean container is inserted. The coffee maker is provided with a locking member pivotally connected to the housing and rotatable about an axis of rotation, comprising: a locking portion that lockingly engages the door in an open position of the door when the coffee bean container is inserted; and an actuating portion in touching contact with the coffee bean container, the actuating portion maintaining the locking portion in engagement with the door in an open position of the door when the coffee bean container is inserted.

Advantageously, during insertion of the container into the housing, the door is stopped by the stopper, and further movement of the coffee bean container towards the interior of the housing results in the discharge opening being gradually uncovered, and in the end position, i.e. when the container is inserted, the locking portion of the locking member engages the door in a locking manner, and at the same time the actuating portion of the locking member is in touching contact by a portion of the coffee bean container to block the locking member in that position. The discharge opening is aligned with the grinder opening so that the coffee beans can easily reach the coffee grinder. When the coffee bean container is removed from the housing, the locking portion of the locking member engages the door when the coffee bean container starts to move outwards along the movement path, whereby the discharge opening is gradually covered, and at the moment when the door reaches the closed position, the actuating portion of the locking member loses contact with the coffee bean container, whereby the locking member can be rotated under the pushing of the door, which moves together with the coffee bean container. It provides a reliable solution for automatically closing and opening a door that is easy to implement.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking member is pivotally connected to the housing bottom and in that the rotation axis is arranged between the locking portion and the actuating portion, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the housing bottom, thus providing a substantially horizontal rotation of the locking member. Advantageously, the locking member has an elongated shape, wherein the locking portion and the actuating portion have been placed on opposite sides of the rotation axis. The positive effect of this solution is that it is easy to implement in the housing structure.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking member is connected to the housing by a bayonet connection, and wherein the bayonet connection comprises a bayonet slot on the housing and a bayonet pin on the locking member. Thus, the assembly process is simple and time-saving.

Advantageously, the front part of the locking member is the locking part and the rear part of the locking member is the actuating part seen from the open side of the housing when the coffee bean container has been inserted. Thus, first the locking portion may be in touching contact with the locking member, and then the actuating portion rotates the locking member.

Advantageously, the coffee bean container comprises guide ribs arranged on the outer bottom portion of the container on both sides of the discharge opening along the movement path, and an actuation edge having an actuation edge for ensuring a touching contact of the coffee bean container with the locking member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking part comprises a point, a first inclined surface for imparting a certain rotation to the locking member, a supporting part and the locking part, wherein the actuating part comprises a second inclined surface for imparting an opposite direction of rotation to the locking member when they are in touching contact with the coffee bean container.

Advantageously, the first inclined surface rotates the locking member clockwise and the second inclined surface rotates the locking member in the opposite direction.

Advantageously, the actuation portion rotates by touching contact with the actuation rib against the second inclined surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door is provided with a locating pin extending from the door along the movement path, the locating pin being dimensioned to be positioned within an opening arranged in the stop.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coffee bean container is provided with a pivotable latch lug as a door movement limiter, which latch lug stops the door in one of the end positions of the open or closed position of the door.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coffee bean container is provided with locking means for locking the door in the closed position, comprising a locking opening arranged on the door, and a locking member protruding through the locking opening, wherein the locking member is arranged to be pressed by the locking portion to release the movement of the door.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon careful reading of the detailed description and appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a built-in coffee maker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a coffee bean container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial bottom view of the coffee bean container as shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial bottom view of the coffee bean container of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing with the coffee bean container inserted, both of which are preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical contents and detailed description of the present invention are described below according to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to limit the execution scope thereof. Any equivalent variations and modifications made in accordance with the appended claims are intended to be covered by the claims of this invention.

In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, like reference numerals designate identical or comparable parts.

Fig. 1 shows a built-in coffee machine 1 provided with a housing 2 for receiving a coffee bean container 3. The coffee bean container 3 is removed from the housing 2 for filling with coffee, which is then inserted back into the housing 2 along the movement path. The coffee bean container 2 has a discharge opening 4 (not shown in this figure), which discharge opening 4 is closed by a door 5 (not shown in this figure) during filling to prevent coffee beans from falling. However, when the coffee bean container 2 is inserted, the door 5 is fully opened to supply coffee beans to a coffee grinder (not shown) below. The coffee maker 1 is provided with a mechanism for appropriately automatically opening and closing the door 5 during insertion and removal of the coffee bean container 3 into and from the housing 2. It is very convenient for the user to have a solution that is reliable during long use and easy to produce and implement to the device. The main part of the mechanism is a locking member 7 (not shown in this figure), the locking member 7 being pivotally connected to the housing 2 and rotatable about an axis of rotation (R), the locking member comprising: a locking portion 8, which locking portion 8 engages the door 5 in a locking manner in the open position of the door 5 when the coffee bean container 3 is inserted; and an actuating portion 9 in touching contact with the coffee bean container 3, the actuating portion 9 maintaining the locking portion 8 in engagement with the door 5 in its open position when the coffee bean container 3 is inserted. During insertion of the coffee bean container 3 into the housing 2, the door 5 is stopped by a stopper 6 (not shown in this figure) being part of the housing 2, and further movement of the coffee bean container 3 towards the interior of the housing 2 results in the discharge opening 4 being gradually uncovered and in an end position, i.e. when the container 3 is inserted, the locking portion 8 of the locking member 8 engages the door 5 in a locking manner, and at the same time the actuating portion 9 of the locking member 7 is touched by a portion of the coffee bean container 3 to block the locking member 7 in this position. The discharge opening 4 is aligned with the grinder opening 14 (not shown in this figure) so that the coffee beans can easily reach the coffee grinder. When the coffee bean container 3 is initially removed from the housing, the locking portion 8 of the locking member 7 engages the door 5 when the coffee bean container is moved outwards along the movement path, whereby the discharge opening 4 is gradually covered, and at the moment when the door 5 reaches the closed position, the actuating portion 9 of the locking member 7 loses touching contact with the coffee bean container 3, whereby the locking member 7 can rotate about the rotation axis R, since it is pushed by the released door 5 and can thus be moved outwards together with the coffee bean container.

Fig. 2 shows a housing 2, which is an integral part of the coffee maker 1. The housing 2 has a housing opening 21 for receiving a coffee bean container 3 (not shown in the figure) and a housing bottom 10 provided with a grind-ing opening 14, the grind-ing opening 14 corresponding to a door 5 (not shown in the figure) of the container 3. The housing 2 has guide projections 18 placed on the housing bottom 10 along the movement path. The front surface of the guide projection 18 is a stopper 6 for stopping the door 5. The front surface is also provided with openings 28 for receiving positioning pins 27 extending from the door 5 along the movement path. The pin 27 is sized to be positioned within the opening 28. The housing 2 is provided with a locking member 7, which locking member 7 is pivotally connected to the housing 2 and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (R) perpendicular to the housing bottom 10, thereby enabling a horizontal rotation thereof. The locking member 7 comprises a locking portion 8 and an actuating portion 9, the locking portion 8 engaging the door 5 in a locking manner in the open position of the door 5 when the coffee bean container 3 is inserted, the actuating portion 9 being in touching contact with the coffee bean container 3, the actuating portion 9 maintaining the locking portion 8 in engagement with the door 5 in the open position of the door 5 when the coffee bean container 3 is inserted.

Fig. 3 shows a coffee bean container 3 provided with a handle on the front surface for easy handling during insertion into the housing 2 or removal from the housing 2 (not shown in this figure). Furthermore, the coffee bean container 3 comprises a discharge opening 4 (not shown) arranged in the bottom portion and a door 5 arranged on the outer bottom of the container 3 to cover the discharge opening 4. The door 5 is slidingly connected to the coffee bean container 3 by means of two guiding ribs 12 (not shown in this figure), the guiding ribs 12 being arranged along the movement path on the outer bottom of the container 3 on both sides of the door 5. Thus, the door 5 can be smoothly moved from the open position to the closed position and returned in the direction of the movement path. The terminal position of the door 5 is fixed in the open position by two latching lugs 13 (not shown in this figure), the latching lugs 13 protruding laterally from the container 3 to stop the door 5 and can be rotated by pressing to release the door 5 from the guide rib 12, illustratively to facilitate cleaning of the door, while the terminal position of the door 5 in the closed position is ensured by a protrusion formed on the guide rib 12.

Fig. 4 and 5 show an outer bottom part of the coffee bean container 3, which comprises a discharge opening 4 arranged in the bottom part and a door 5 for covering the discharge opening 4. In this figure, the door 5 is in a closed position, so that it covers the discharge opening 4. The door 5 is slidingly connected to the coffee bean container 3 by means of two guiding ribs 12, the two guiding ribs 12 being arranged on the outer bottom of the container 3 on the sides of the door 5 along the movement path. Thus, the door 5 can be smoothly moved from the open position to the closed position and returned in the direction of the movement path. In the open position, the terminal position of the door 5 is fixed by two latching lugs 13, the latching lugs 13 protruding laterally from the container 3 to stop the door 5, and the latching lugs 13 can be rotated by pressing to release the door 5 from the guide ribs 12, illustratively for cleaning the door, whereas in the closed position, the terminal position of the door 5 is ensured by a protrusion formed on the guide ribs 12. The door 5 is provided with a positioning pin 27 extending from said door 5 along the movement path. The locating pin 27 is sized to be positioned within an opening 28 (not shown in this figure) disposed in the stop 6. Furthermore, the coffee bean container 3 comprises a locking means 17 for locking the door 5 in the closed position, which locking means 17 are provided to prevent an accidental opening of the door 5 when the door 5 is outside the housing 2 (not shown in this figure). The lock device 17 comprises a lock opening 29 arranged in the door 5 and a lock member 30 protruding through the lock opening 29. The latch member 30 is arranged to be pressed by a locking portion 8 (not shown in this figure) of the locking member 7 to release the movement of the door 5. Furthermore, the door 5 is provided with a locking surface 16, which locking surface 16 stands transversely to the movement path and is in contact with a locking surface 24 arranged in the locking portion 8 of the locking member 7. The locking surfaces 16 and 24 are complementary to each other and both are inclined to provide easy disengagement of the locking member 7 from the door 5.

Fig. 6 shows a part of the housing 2 with the inserted coffee bean container 3. The housing 2 is provided with a housing bottom 10, the locking member 7 being pivotally connected to the housing bottom 10 by a bayonet connection (not shown in this figure). The locking member 7 is rotatable about a rotation axis R placed in the vicinity of the stopper 6. The rotation axis R is arranged between the locking portion 8 and the actuating portion 9, wherein the rotation axis R is perpendicular to the housing bottom 10, thus providing a substantially horizontal rotation of the locking member 9. The locking member 7 has an elongated shape with a locking portion 8 and an actuating portion 9, the locking portion 8 and the actuating portion 9 having been placed on opposite sides of the rotation axis R. The locking portion 8 includes: a point 22, the first inclined surface 23 giving a certain rotation to the locking member 7 when the coffee bean container 3 is inserted; the support portion 25 rests against the door 5 and presses the locking member 30 (not shown in this figure); and a locking portion 24 engaged with the locking surface 16 of the door 5. The locking member 7 has a limited angle of rotation arranged as a mechanical stop such that the point 22 cannot pass through a line along the movement path and is defined as an extension of the actuation edge 15.

The actuating portion 9, which is in touching contact with the actuating rib 26 and keeps the locking portion 8 engaged with the door 5, further comprises a collision member 19, which collision member 19 collides with the actuating rib 26 through an actuating edge 15 arranged on the coffee bean container 3. The second inclined surface 20 of the actuating portion 9 rotates the locking portion 8 towards the door 5 when they are in contact with the coffee bean container 3. The locking surface 16 and the locking surface 24 are complementary to each other and both are inclined to provide easy disengagement of the locking member 7 from the door 5.

The present invention provides a user with a coffee machine having a removable coffee bean container, wherein the operation of the removable coffee bean container is performed smoothly, and wherein the risk of malfunction is reduced. A door is also provided that is automatically closed or opened by manually moving the coffee bean container. This solution also gives the user the positive impression that the coffee bean container is firmly positioned in the housing.

Although the invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiments as described above, it will be appreciated that many other possible modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals

1. Coffee machine

2. Outer casing

3. Coffee bean container

4. Discharge opening

5. Door

6. Stop piece

7. Locking member

8. Locking part

9. Actuating part

10. Bottom of the outer shell

11. Guide rib

12. Grinder opening

13. Latch lug

14. Grinder opening

15. Actuating edge

16. Locking surface

17. Lock set

18. Guide projection

19. Collision member

20. A second inclined surface

21. Shell opening

22. Point(s)

23. A first inclined surface

24. Locking surface

25. Support surface

26. Actuating rib

27. Locking pin

28. An opening

29. Locking opening

30. Locking member

R rotation axis.

Claims

1. A coffee machine (1) having a housing (2) provided with a housing opening (21) and a coffee bean container (3) removable from the housing, and which can be moved on a movement path, having a grinder for coffee beans, having a discharge opening (4) for supplying coffee beans to the coffee bean container (3) of the grinder, and having a door (5) for closing the discharge opening (4), which can be moved between an open position and a closed position by manually moving the coffee bean container (3), having a stop (6) on the housing (2), which stop (6) stands substantially transversely to the movement path, and which stop (6) is in touching contact with the door (5) when the coffee bean container (3) is inserted, characterized in that a locking member (7) is pivotally connected to the housing (2) and rotatable about a rotation axis (R), comprising:

-a locking portion (8) which, when the coffee bean container (3) is inserted, engages the door (5) in a locking manner in the open position of the door (5), and

-an actuation portion (9) in touching contact with the coffee bean container (3), which actuation portion keeps the locking portion (8) engaged with the door (5) in the open position of the door when the coffee bean container (3) is inserted.

2. Coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking member (7) is pivotally connected to a housing bottom (10) and in that the rotation axis (R) is arranged between the locking portion (8) and the actuating portion (9), wherein the rotation axis (R) is perpendicular to the housing bottom (10) thus providing a substantially horizontal rotation of the locking member (9).

3. Coffee machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking member (7) has an elongated shape, wherein the locking portion (8) and the actuating portion (9) have been placed on opposite sides of the rotation axis (R).

4. Coffee machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking member (7) is connected with the housing (2) by a bayonet connection, and wherein the bayonet connection comprises a bayonet slot on the housing (2) and a bayonet pin on the locking member (7).

5. A coffee machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front part of the locking member (7) is a locking part (8) and the rear part of the locking member (7) is an actuating part (9) seen from the housing opening (21) side when the coffee bean container (3) has been inserted.

6. The coffee machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coffee bean container (3) comprises guide ribs (12), which guide ribs (12) are arranged along the movement path on an outer bottom portion of the container (3) on both sides of the discharge opening (4), and further comprises actuation ribs (26) with actuation edges (15).

7. Coffee machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking portion (8) comprises: a dot (22); a first inclined surface (23) for imparting a certain rotation to the locking member (7); a support portion (25); and a locking portion (24), wherein the actuation portion (9) comprises a second inclined surface (20) to provide an opposite rotational direction of the locking member (7) when they are in touching contact with the coffee bean container (3).

8. Coffee machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said first inclined surface (23) rotates the locking member (7) clockwise and said second inclined surface (20) rotates the locking member in the opposite direction.

9. Coffee machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said actuation portion (9) rotates by touching contact with an actuation rib (26) against said second inclined surface (20).

10. Coffee machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (5) is provided with a positioning pin (27) extending from the door (5) along a movement path, the positioning pin (27) being dimensioned to be positioned within an opening (28) arranged in the stop (6).

11. Coffee machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coffee bean container (3) is provided with a pivotable latching lug (13) as a door (5) movement limiter, which stops the door (5) in one of the end positions of the door (5) in the open position or in the closed position.

12. Coffee machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coffee bean container (3) is provided with a lock device (17) for locking the door (5) in a closed position, comprising a locking opening (29) arranged on the door (5) and a locking member (30) protruding through the locking opening (29), wherein the locking member (30) is arranged to be pressed by the locking portion (8) to release the movement of the door (5).